Stories for April 17th 2013

Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 23:59 UTC
US holding back recognition of Maduro who said “we couldn’t care less”

The United States held back recognition of President-elect Nicolas Maduro and called on the Venezuelan government on Wednesday to respect the right of free assembly after violence at opposition protests over a disputed election.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 23:55 UTC
Venezuelan Supreme Court bars any chance of a manual recount of votes

A manual recount of votes isn't possible in Venezuela, the head of the country's Supreme Court said Wednesday, suggesting there is no legal basis for the opposition's push for a ballot-by-ballot audit of the narrow presidential election results.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 23:49 UTC
Latam countries in OAS recognized Maduro as Venezuela’s elected president

Representatives from several Latinamerican and Caribbean countries before the Organization of American States recognized on Wednesday Nicolas Maduro as elected president of Venezuela. Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay among others congratulated the new head of state and praised the Venezuelan people for their massive and peaceful turnout last Sunday for the historic voting day.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 23:06 UTC
After the megalomaniac years of Chavez Venezuela is ready for a sober Maduro

By R. Viswanathan (*) - The election of Nicolas Maduro, the chosen heir of Chavez, in last Sunday’s election, is good news for the peaceful and orderly transition of Venezuela after the abnormal, autocratic and quixotic rule of Chavez in the last fourteen years. If Capriles had won, the change would have been abrupt and traumatic for the Chavistas who might not have given up power so easily without some messy fight.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 08:06 UTC
Cristina Fernandez and Mujica could overcome incident at Maduro’s ceremony in Caracas

Argentina and Uruguay presidents could hold an unofficial meeting next Friday in Caracas when they attend the taking office ceremony of Venezuelan president next Friday, according to Montevideo diplomatic sources.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 08:02 UTC
Special Committee of 24 scheduled to hold Pacific Regional Seminar in Ecuador

The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation — also known as the Special Committee of 24 — is to hold its Pacific Regional Seminar in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 28 to 30 May. Its agenda is to review progress in the United Nations decolonisation process.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 07:58 UTC
Malvinas seminar in Argentina to teach education staff how to isolate the war from the sovereignty claim

An estimated 1.600 teachers and education students from all over Argentina are participating in a Malvinas seminar organized by the country’s Education ministry with the main purpose of “setting aside the war issue” from the main sovereignty claim.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 07:54 UTC
Cristina Fernandez calls on the US to recognize the Venezuelan government

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez demanded the United States “recognizes the Venezuelan government” following on Sunday’s election in which Nicolas Maduro was confirmed as president despite a very tight margin (just over 1% of ballots) and challenges by the opposition candidate.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 07:50 UTC
Margaret Thatcher: Some Personal Memories

By David P. Michaels - I was, naturally, sad to hear the news about Lady Thatcher, but cheered myself up by remembering some wonderful, private moments with her, rather than the state of her health these recent years and her subsequent death this past week.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 07:47 UTC
A year on YPF’s seizure, Argentina’s energy challenge remains equally strong

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernández takeover of YPF to pare energy imports is backfiring and threatening to narrow the country’s trade surplus needed to pay debt, according to a report from Bloomberg.